AUSTRALIAN GREEN TV- Cool-Aid: The National Carbon Test

According to figures released last year, Australia ranks as the highest emitter of greenhouse gases per capita in the world, mostly due to their use of coal for electricity generation. While green power from the utility companies IS available, most households do not realize the impact of their energy consumption on the environment. Providing this information is vital to creating a change in the way that people think and act. So tomorrow, Sunday March 4th at 8:30pm, Australia’s Channel TEN will be showing “Cool-Aid: The National Carbon Test” on national television. The two-hour TV show will ask viewers to calculate their carbon emissions, as well as provide them with an outline of simple carbon reduction strategies for use in their homes. Viewers will also be asked to send their results via SMS to Cool Aid to create a state-by-state picture of Australia’s emission levels.

During the course of the program experts from Sydney’s Institute for Sustainable Futures will audit emissions from four celebrity homes, including Toni Collette and former Miss Universe Australia Erin McKnight, and will show their results on air live. The show will also include interviews with Al Gore, Tim Flannery (Australian of the Year and writer of “The Weather Makers“)

This is an important benchmark in making people aware of the environmental issues that we are facing today. Personally, I’ll be watching the show and giving it a try, and Í’ll make sure to come back and let you know of any interesting results that come out of this show.

In reply to Mark Hill,
Its typical of society today that we want someone to do all the hard yards for us so until we decide to get off our fat backsides and start contributing to the community then your right Mark no one will do it, thank goodness our farmers show a little more backbone than the rest of us, Try this Mark, pay a little more attention to doing your Tax and you might save youself a few $ and while your at it try paying a little more attention to the enviroment, let us all know how you get on, just one more thing, How green is your lawn at the moment ?

I also felt that the show was lacking in many respects, and the show felt really rushed, and unfocused. However, I think that the main value of the show was the fact that it was a two-hour presentation about global warming on national tv. By the way, for anyone curious to know we scored 15 points on the, very limited, survey. I guess that walking truly pays off...

I watched CoolAid last night too, and enjoyed hearing the statistics and a lot of the tips presented. However, I was disappointed in the simplistic way the show was presented. (Will Sandra Sully please go back to her ultra-serious, smooth newsgirl style and stop presenting pun-laden gameshow performances???)
I thought their survey was a little too basic as well, and think you should use other carbon calculators (eg: our electricity use should be offset by the fact that it's green, so our use of the dryer shouldn't matter). And the answers it came up with - Cool customer, Carbon Cowboy or Carbon Catastrophe???
Above all, my biggest disappointment was that no celebrity surveyed was already commited to a green lifestyle. Although I acknowledge the value of showing lifestyles of folks at the top end of carbon emissions, it would have been nice to showcase somebody who was commited to changing their lifestyle - there seem to be quite a few of us out there.
The worst part was the surveys provided changes they could make, and most made only loose commitments to change. It's nice they want to participate, but if they can't be bothered to commit to change, what hope do the rest of us have? At least give us good examples to follow!
Have to say we love Dr Karl though - he's still the best role model.

Thanks for the post. I watched the show last night, and it really gave me a couple of ideas of how to improve my way of living, and how to help the world, one small step at a time. Btw, It would be a good idea to post once in a while simple things we can do on a daily basis to help the planet - yeah, we little people need some guidance in these kind of issues :)
thanks again!
Rebeca

Hi,
There are some good and easy to use carbon calculators here:
http://www.builditsolar.com/References/emissionsanalysisrs.htm
The BP one is pretty good for estimating your total carbon "footprint".
The Infinite Power one is very good for detailed studies like how much more carbon will I produce if I heat with electricity vs natural gas?
The HybridCars one is good for seeing how much difference in carbon emissions between different cars.
Gary

The problem with this figuring your carbon footprint is that itis like doing your taxes. Nobody will want to spend the time doing it.
the electric company should do the figuring for you, as well as the gas company etc etc etc

To COOl-AID.
Im writting this as I dont own a mobile. My score was 15. Thank you for running this Show as we need more people aware of these issues. The Government need to address the issue of hot water systems, and insulation in government housing. Im sure my footstep would go down if those were implemented. I only use 2 incadencent bulbs in my house but that is because of the fittings. I have a watersaving shower fitting. I dont own a car I walk or catch public tranport. I buy local produce when available and when there isnt a water shortage grow my own vegetables. I recycle without fail now that we have that option, we only got house recycle bins here in Oct last year still waiting foor the green ones. I only wash clothes in cold water and dry on the line, I dont own a dryer. I also dont own an air conditioner. I started buying floresant bulbs 5 years ago at least well ever since they came out.
Thanking you
Michelle Hazell